2024 Vikings Pick Set to Be the Odd Man Out

Rouse, a left tackle at Stanford and Oklahoma, has appeared in eight games during his two-year NFL career, seeing the field on 88 offensive snaps and 38 on special teams. He had a safe spot on the 53-man roster for 25 months, but the numbers work against him this year.

The Vikings added Ryan Van Demark in free agency, snatching the restricted free agent from the Buffalo Bills. He’s set to be the swing backup tackle for the upcoming season after starting six games in front of Josh Allen.

Furthermore, the organization acquired Caleb Tiernan in the third round of last month’s draft. The Northwestern tackle should be expected to stick around, of course, and potentially threaten Van Demark rather than competing with Rouse.

Aug 2, 2024; Eagan, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Walter Rouse (78) warms up during practice at Vikings training camp in Eagan, MN. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

That makes two backup tackles behind the unquestioned starting duo of Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. Both struggled with their health last year, missing several games and opening the door for Rouse to get his first offensive snaps. Rouse started the season as the fourth tackle behind the two starters and backup Justin Skule, but on some occasions, the staff preferred to move Blake Brandel back to tackle over giving the 2024 pick a shot.

Starting 52 games in college, first at Stanford and then at Oklahoma, Rouse possesses ideal measurements for a tackle at 6’6″ and 313 lbs, with 35″ arms.

Still, a move to offensive guard might be his best bet. Behind starters Donovan Jackson and Will Fries, the Vikings aren’t particularly loaded with backups after Brandel’s slide into the center position. The backup list includes undrafted rookies and practice squad players in Joe Huber, Henry Byrd, Vershon Lee, and Tomas Rimac.

In fact, a position swap has been floated as an idea for years.

Dec 28, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners offensive linemen Caleb Shaffer (53) and Walter Rouse (75) get ready for a play in the first half against the Arizona Wildcats at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Darren Wolfson commented on Skor North last year, “Walter Rouse, I’m told, his camp feels like there’s more of a pathway to playing time at some point at guard versus tackle. If you’re thinking Walter Rouse, draft pick last year, is more a tackle, just saying, don’t sleep on the possibility of him playing guard, getting guard reps, working more so at the guard position, not the tackle position.”

Oli Udoh went that route in 2021 and Brandel in 2023. Both started one season at guard before a replacement arrived. It helped them carve out a longer career, though.

Even head coach Kevin O’Connell has mentioned the Rouse to guard concept before, hinting at the transition ahead of his rookie season: “The growth we’ve already seen, both at the right tackle position ‒ I do believe he’s gonna have the ability to play some guard also. It’s not something you start him out in his NFL journey, bouncing around [in] different spots on the line.”

Given the state of the roster, it would hardly be surprising to see Rouse get some reps at the guard position throughout OTAs and the summer’s training camp.

Rouse turned 25 this year.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.